The Attributes of Christ: A Cross-Centered Look at the Character of God

Almost every Sunday, I teach the kindergarten through 2nd grade class at Emmaus Bible Church.  Our current series is called the ABCs of God: A Study for Children on the Greatness and Worth of God.  I really like the curriculum overall.  However, one thing I am noticing as of late is how it assumes the gospel (or at least, leaves it up to the teacher to include it).  I think at first I was okay with this, especially considering the curriculum itself says, "Jesus is not introduced until Lesson 14.  This is by design and is important in the flow of the curriculum.  We want children to see and understand that the Bible has a revealed order."

That makes sense, but is it the best way to teach children (or anybody for that matter)?  How many of us as adults would be okay with it if our pastor said that he was going to preach from the Bible, but not talk about Jesus until he got to the New Testament?  I, for one, would find another church.

More and more I am realizing just how important the gospel is, not just for unbelievers, but for believers as well.  We need it every day.  Moreover, trying to teach on the character of God without Christ is like...(any analogy here falls far short).  It just doesn't make sense.  In fact, it leaves us fearful and hopeless instead of comforted and full of joy, because we have to answer to that God without a Savior.

This drives me to want to include the gospel any way I can.  Tomorrow, Lord willing, I will teach the kids that God is jealous.  This means he does not put up with idolatry.  No Jesus, and that picture looks pretty bleak.  With Jesus, however, there is the possibility of having that God on your side.  Now that's glorious!

Pride = What will they think of me?

Three days into my third year of teaching, I feel very different than I did two years ago.  One of the main differences I would say is not worrying too much about what my students think of me.  This was a major concern my first year, so much so that I hesitated to discipline the children at times (so that they would think I was nice) and while on other occasions I was too harsh on them (so that they would think I was tough).  As you can see, this is a very man-centered fear.  Thankfully, God is in the process of liberating me from this fear.  Through a book I read this summer on the topic and more importantly by his grace, the Lord has changed me.  He has shown me that instead of needing other people to meet my felt (psychological) needs, the only One I really need is him.  There is a sense in which I still need people; however, it is not about me.  I need people to help me glorify him, because I cannot do it on my own.  By myself, I am a very poor representation of what God is like.  Yes, I am created in his image, but as someone pointed out to me recently, the only thing that was not good before the fall was for man to be alone.  That is because man cannot fully display God's character by going it alone.  That is why God created woman and eventually the church.  We need each other to reflect God's communicable attributes (those attributes of God that we share with him in part, such as knowledge, wisdom, love, and mercy).

Year 3! Can It Be?

Well, it is.  Hard to believe.  Two years ago I was just settling into Bellevue, scrambling to get my classroom set up, and praying hard that God would be with me.

He was.  I just didn't have eyes to see.  I won't give a complete recap of what happened, but I will say this: it wasn't good.  However, God is good.  He remains faithful to his own, even when we are faithless.

I am thankful for his work in me.  More than that, though, I am thankful for his work outside of me, namely, Christ's substitutionary atoning (wrath absorbing) death on the cross for my sins.  Not to mention his perfect righteous life that he credits to my account.

This is the gospel, and I need it every day.  And not just at the beginning of the day, but all day long.  It is a life of repentance and faith in Christ.  His blood has ransomed me forever.  There is therefore now no condemnation.  Praise God!